diff --git a/Lib/threading.py b/Lib/threading.py
index fbf40cd04c6..6543cc36cbe 100644
--- a/Lib/threading.py
+++ b/Lib/threading.py
@@ -421,7 +421,10 @@ class Thread(_Verbose):
                     self._note("%s.__bootstrap(): normal return", self)
         finally:
             self.__stop()
-            self.__delete()
+            try:
+                self.__delete()
+            except:
+                pass
 
     def __stop(self):
         self.__block.acquire()